Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is a highly-effective and widely used insulation and air sealant material. Spray foam insulation is an alternative to traditional building insulation such as fiberglass.

Assist Your HVAC System with Spray Foam

There is no superior home insulating material that can seal your home from air and humidity intrusion. Save on expensive utility bills, reinforce your home, and defend your family's health from dangerous mold, airborne pollutants and allergens. In addition, when your home is properly insulated, your HVAC system will not have to work as hard in order to maintain the desired temperatures you want in your house.

Benefits

Spray foam insulation saves on energy costs and lowers utility bills. Studies by the US Department of Energy show that 40% of a home's energy is lost as the result of air infiltration through walls, windows and doorways.

Insulation that is sprayed in buildings protects against moisture, which provides the benefit of reducing the chance of harmful mold and mildew. Eliminating mold growth reduces the likelihood of rotting wood in a home, and allergic reactions to mold spores.

In addition to building temperature and moisture control, spray foam insulation is often used to reduce noise. Foam insulation adds strength to the building structure and serves as a barrier to airborne sounds, and reduces airborne sound transfer through a building's roof, floor and walls.

Mills Brothers Heating and Air can answer all your questions about spray foam with a free in-home consultation. Please call us at (843) 764-1919 today. Or complete our online contact form here!

What is Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation?

Spray polyurethane foam is made by mixing and reacting chemicals to create a foam. The mixing and reacting materials react very quickly, expanding on contact to create foam that insulates, air seals and provides a moisture barrier. SPF insulation is known to resist heat transfer extremely well, and it offers a highly effective solution in reducing unwanted air infiltration through cracks, seams, and joints.

SPF insulation is generally described as a high pressure foam or a low pressure foam and is available as "open-cell" or "closed-cell" foam. There are several major differences between the two types. It is important to discuss with which type of SPF insulation may be best suited to your application.

Open cell foam insulation: Open cell is a type of foam where the tiny cells are not completely closed. Open cell is less expensive because it uses fewer chemicals. It is a very good air barrier but does not provide any type of water vapor barrier. It is much more sponge-like in appearance. It is often used for interior walls because it provides sound reduction by damping the movement of existing insulation. It is not recommended for outdoor applications.

Closed cell foam insulation: Closed cell foam insulation is much denser than open cell. It has a smaller, more compact cell structure. It is a very good air barrier as well as a water vapor barrier. It is often used in roofing projects or other outdoor applications, but can be used anywhere in the home.

R-Value: R-value is the measure of resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value of an insulation product, the more effective the insulation properties. The higher the R-value, the lower the heat loss.

The following comparison highlights some of the typical differences between closed-cell and open-cell foam.

Closed Cell

• Higher R-value (R-7 per inch)
• Lower moisture vapor permeability (low perm)
• Air barrier
• Higher strength and rigidity
• Resists water
• Medium density (1.75 - 2.25 lbs/ft3)
• Absorbs sound

Open Cell

• R-value (approximately 3.5 per inch)
• Water moisture vapor permeability, but controlled
• Air barrier at full wall thickness
• Lower strength and rigidity
• Not suggested for applications in direct contact with water
• Lower density (0.4 - 1.2 lbs/ft3
• Absorbs sound very well

Foam insulation blocks all three forms of heat transfer.

Conductive heat transfer: The flow of thermal energy through a substance from a higher to a lower temperature region. Foam thermoset plastics block conductive heat transfer due in part to having very loose molecular bonds; In addition the cells of the installed spray foam are either filled with air in the case of open cell foam or 245fa in closed cell foam.

Radiant heat transfer: The process by which heat energy in the form of light (usually IR unless the substrate is hot enough to glow in the visible range) is emitted more strongly by warm surfaces and absorbed by other materials especially those of low IR reflectivity (think matte black finish). Radiant heat transfer does not require a medium. Thermoset foams, such as spray foam insulation, have the ability to reflect radiant heat. This is due to the reflective (shiny, in terms of IR) surfaces within the cell structure of the foam.

Convective heat transfer: Heat which is created elsewhere that is transported by means of a fluid, such as water or in our case air. Spray foam insulation's most important attribute is the ability to air seal creating a custom airtight envelope within the building structure. The added benefit to air sealing is the ability to block convective heat transfer from interior to exterior during heating months and vice versa during cooling months, as the heat cannot escape through gaps in the buildings envelope without the aid of air movement from infiltration as a means of transport.

Spray Polyurethane Foam High Pressure Systems

Mills Brothers Heating and Air uses a high pressure system. A high pressure system uses 55-gallon drums and are more often used when insulating larger areas on new construction or major renovations on walls and roofs. These products are intended for professional use. These products require special training and the use of specialized personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators.

For a typical high pressure SPF application, a spray rig which houses the SPF ingredients, air supply and other items is parked near the home or building to be sprayed. Hoses are carried to the application area and installers wearing proper protective equipment spray the foam.